August 11, 2025

Reducing single-use polypropylene lab coats: The case for in-house laundering

At Eumar Technologies and Ubersorb, we have committed significant resources to understanding and reducing our environmental impact. Working with specialists and internal teams, we have transformed our operations from production line through to supply chain. Our most recent investment in reducing our carbon footprint demonstrates that continuous improvement opportunities exist when timing and circumstances align, even when you think you might have achieved all you can. For us, that was the development of an in-house laundry.

The challenge of single-use laboratory clothing

Laboratory environments have increasingly adopted single-use polypropylene lab coats for their convenience and perceived safety benefits. However, growing environmental concerns and economic considerations are prompting institutions to reconsider this approach in favour of reusable alternatives with in-house laundering systems.

The environmental impact of disposable polypropylene lab coats is substantial. These garments contribute to microplastic waste streams that typically end up in landfills, waterways, or incineration facilities, creating long-term pollution challenges. While polypropylene is theoretically recyclable, practical limitations exist due to contamination from laboratory use and insufficient specialised recycling infrastructure for medical textiles. Transportation costs further compound the environmental burden.
When we examined our usage patterns and potential environmental impact, we recognised the need for an alternative solution that maintained the protective benefits of disposable coats whilst addressing sustainability concerns.

Implementing a sustainable solution

In-house laundering of reusable lab coats presents a viable alternative that addresses both environmental and economic concerns. However, implementation may be challenging or daunting for many small businesses, but we are proof it can be successful.

The significant modernisation of our production line, including two additional clean rooms, provided an opportune moment to implement this change. We incorporated the in-house laundry into our development strategy, making it integral to our business growth rather than an additional consideration.

To realise the full benefits, we addressed several key challenges, principally ensuring that our in-house laundry and operational processes maintained product integrity and met customer requirements. As this approach has been successfully implemented elsewhere, we gathered insights from industry peers to minimise implementation costs and avoid common pitfalls.

While the initial investment in washing equipment and reusable garments typically recovers costs through reduced ongoing expenses, particularly in high-volume laboratory settings, the potential cost of disrupting our production line required careful planning.

Implementation considerations

Our internal team focused on careful planning around several critical areas:

• Workflow logistics and staff training: Establishing contamination control and equipment maintenance protocols to ensure seamless integration with existing operations.
• Collection and distribution systems: Implementing proper washing and distribution processes to maintain hygiene standards across all products.
• Quality assurance: Regular testing to ensure protective properties remain intact throughout the garment lifecycle, maintaining production line integrity and clean room standards.

Addressing secondary environmental concerns

Having established the in-house laundry system, we faced a second challenge: ensuring we were not simply transferring the sustainability impact from disposable coats to laundry operations. We investigated methods to reduce the environmental impact of the laundry itself, focusing on energy consumption and sourcing renewable energy to power our washing and drying operations. After one year of operation, 100% of our in-house laundry runs on sustainable energy sources.

Results and impact

The implementation of our in-house laundry system has eliminated over 4,000 disposable polypropylene coats in the first year of operation. The transition from single-use polypropylene lab coats to reusable alternatives with in-house laundering has proven transformational for our operations. While earlier implementation might have been possible, the timing in 2024 aligned with our broader modernisation efforts. One year later, both our organisation and clients are experiencing the benefits of this operational shift.

Looking forward

We remain committed to sharing insights with industry colleagues. If you have implemented similar systems and achieved additional benefits, we would welcome the opportunity to learn from your experience. Similarly, if we can assist others considering this transition, please contact us. The move towards sustainable laboratory practices requires industry-wide collaboration and knowledge sharing. Through collective effort, we can reduce the environmental impact of laboratory operations whilst maintaining the safety and quality standards our work demands.